Euro Manganese Finishes Successful Continuous Operation Program at Demonstration Plant

Euro Manganese Inc. has announced a significant milestone in its development efforts, successfully completing a five-day continuous operation program at the demonstration plant located at the Chvaletice Manganese Project in the Czech Republic. This program focused on the production of high-purity electrolytic manganese metal (HPEMM), achieving key technical targets essential for accessing the next funding draw from the Orion financing package, announced on November 28, 2023.

The demonstration plant is a critical component of Euro Manganese's strategy, showcasing six essential stages of the metallurgical flowsheet for the project. Among these stages, the electrowinning process stands out, designed for continuous operation using qualified solution feedstock generated from preceding leaching and purification processes. This electrowinning stage is capable of producing selenium-free HPEMM flakes with an impressive purity of 99.9% manganese. The other stages, which operate on a batch basis, include ore preparation, magnetic separation to concentrate the ore, leaching and purification, control and removal of magnesium, and the final processes of HPEMM dissolution, purification, drying, and crystallization to create high-purity manganese sulfate monohydrate (HPMSM) with over 99.9% purity.

The continuous operation program took place from October 7 to 12, 2024, during which the qualified solution preparation and electrowinning module ran continuously, day and night. The target for this program was to produce a minimum of 132 kg of HPEMM while limiting downtime to no more than eight hours. The purification process operated on a batch basis to ensure adequate feedstock availability. Remarkably, the demonstration plant achieved a flawless performance with 100% reliability over the five-day period, resulting in the production of 172 kg of HPEMM—exceeding the initial production target by over 30%.

Dr. Matthew James, President and CEO of Euro Manganese, praised the achievement, stating, “Completing 120 hours of continuous operations and exceeding production targets by 30% is a major technical milestone. This accomplishment reflects the expertise and discipline of our operations team.” He highlighted that this development enhances the technological maturity of the project, positioning Euro Manganese to meet the growing market demand for high-purity manganese.

The Chvaletice Project is notable as the only new high-purity manganese project outside of China that has a fully operational demonstration plant. With the increasing demand for high-purity manganese—particularly as battery manufacturers move toward lower-cost, higher-manganese formulations—Euro Manganese is strategically positioned to benefit from these trends. The successful operation of the demonstration plant not only underscores the viability of the Chvaletice Project but also highlights the company’s potential to be a significant contributor to the evolving battery materials market.

Overall, the completion of this continuous operation program represents a pivotal advancement for Euro Manganese, laying a strong foundation for future developments and solidifying its role in the sustainable production of essential battery materials. As the company continues to progress, it is poised to play a vital role in addressing the increasing global demand for high-purity manganese, further establishing itself as a key player in the industry.